Self-wringing mop



Aug. 3, 1954 J. PALMA, JR., ETAL 2,685,098

SELF-WRINGING MoP Filed Dec. l, 1950 ATTHNFXS'. I

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 SELF-YVRINGING IHOP Joseph Palma, Jr., Berwyn, and James G. Knapp, Lombard, Ill., assignors to OCedar Corpn, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 1, 1950, Serial N o. 198,702

5 Claims.

Our invention relates to mops, and more particularly to mops of the self-wringing type in which the mop body is Composed of an absorbent sponge.

Heretofore various attempts have been made to devise a mop using an absorbent sponge as the mop body together with a means for wringing the sponge. Previously known wringing means, however, have proven unsatisfactory, since they cause the dirt collected on the sides of the sponge to be forced into the interior of the sponge by the wringing operation. In normal mopping, the mop is moved both forwardly and backwardly as well as sidewise to some extent. This causes dirt to collect on all of the sides of the sponge, and especially on the front and back surfaces. Therefore, when the sponge is wrung by initiat ing pressure on either the front or rear surfaces the dirt collected thereon is forced into the interior of the mop, and thereby prevents it from being satisfactorily cleaned.

It is therefore an object of our invention to develop a means for wringing a mop sponge which will flush the sponge from the center outwardly, and thereby prevent dirt collected on the outer surfaces from being forced into the interior of the sponge. It is another object of our invention to eliminate the separate presser plate heretofore required in self-wringing mops.

It is a further object of our invention to develop l a squeezing means which can be operated without stooping or bending, that is, from the top of the handle. It is a still further object of our invention to provide an improved method of attaching the mop sponge wherein the attachl ing means is concealed from view and made more readily disengageable. It is a still further object of our invention to provide a mounting for the mop handle which allows the handle to be adjusted to various angular positions for mopping, and to be made upright for storage. Further specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

We have discovered that these objects can be substantially accomplished by providing two mop head plates secured to the upper surface of the mop sponge and having a central space therebetween. We have further discovered that hous ings can be mounted on top of the mop head plates adapted to pivotally receive the ends of a pair of tongs which form extensions of two pivotally connected handles. We have still further discovered that it is desirable in order to maintain proper alignment to connect the housings by a rod and sleeve means across the open space between the mop head plates. We have also discovered that clip fasteners attached to the upper surface of the sponge can be conveniently received through the backing plates and inside the housings.

AOur invention is illustrated in a specic embodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a vertical perspective view showing our entire self-wringing mop; Fig. 2, a front sectional view taken in elevation on line 2-2 'of Fig. l showing the details of the housing and rod and sleeve construction; Fig. 3, a fragmentary front view showing our mop in wringing position with the mop head plates folded downwardly about the mop sponge; and Fig. 4, an enlarged side sectional view taken in elevation on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing the details of the clip fastener.

In the illustration given, I designates a pair of tongs having right lever la and left lever lb. Although we prefer to have tongs I that are generaly right-angled in shape as shown in our specic embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that this shape may be changed so long as their lever action is preserved.

Right lever la and left lever lb comprising tongs l are rigidly connected to arms 2a and 2b, which form upward extensions of the levers and form handle 2. As seen in Fig. l, the adjacent surfaces of arm extensions 2a and 2b are aligned with each other to provide for the sliding of the arms relative to each other. It is also desirable to have the arm extensions of the saine size in order that arms 2a and 2bmay be brought into alignment to form a handle 2 having smooth surfaces on the sides. Handle arms 2a and 2b are pivotally connected near their bottom ends by pin 3, which allows the arms to be angularly displaced from each other and thereby bring right lever la and left lever lb closer together. Right lever la and left lever lh have screws il secured at their lower ends and projecting inwardly therefrom. Screws 4 threadedly engage balls 5 in order that tongs l can be readily attached and detached from balls 5. Balls 5 are pivotally secured within sockets E of housings l.

In the illustration given, sleeve 8 is pivotally mounted on the top of left housing 'lb by means of fastener 9, and extends inwardly therefrom. Rod lll slides within sleeve 6 and has its inner end turned downwardly and pivotally connecte-:l to support flanges l2 on the inner end of right housing 'la by means of pin i3. This means of connecting right housing la and left housing lb assists in keeping the housings and tongs in proper alignment when the handle arms are displaced to close the tongs.

Mop head plates I4 are secured to the bottom of housing I so as to leave a space between right housing 'Ia and left housing lb beneath sleeve 8 and rod I0. Plates I4 can be rigidly secured to housing T by any suitable means, such as spot welding, or if desired plates I4 may be detachably secured. Plates I4 preferably are rectangular and have their sides in parallel alignment, as shown best in Fig. 1. Preferably, the housings and mop head plates are provided with a plurality of spaced-apart transverse lines extending along the surfaces thereof for ornamentation.

In one form of our invention, we 4prefer to form clip holes I5 in plates I4 beneath housings 'I. The purpose of these holes will be discussed in detail later.

The mop body is composed of rectangular sponge I9. Sponge I9' can be composed of any suitably flexible and absorbent material, however, we prefer to. use a celluose sponge. We have found, however, that sponge rubber is also desirable.

Sponge I9 can be directly secured to the bottom of plates I4 by means of a heat resistant adhesive. However', we prefer to glue a canvas back I6 on the upper side of sponge I9 by means of a heat resistant adhesive I'I such as cellulose acetate. If desired, as we prefer, canvas i6 may be composed of a right portion Ilia and a left portion IBI; in order that the canvas 5 will not extend inwardly beyond plates I4.

In the specific embodiment shown, we have mounted clips I8 on the upper surface of sponge i9 by securing the clip bases I'Sa between canvas I6 and sponge IIS. Canvas I6 is adhesively secured to sponge I9. Clips IB have notched sides Ib projecting upwardly, and adapted to engage clip recesses 20, formed in the bottom of housings l'. We prefer to have the edges 2i of clip recesses 20 turned inwardly to assist them in engaging notched sides ISb of clips I8. Sponge I5 can thus be detachably secured to plates I4 by means of cli-ps I8, which are passed upwardly through clip holes I5 to engage recesses 20. This design is especially desirable since it further utilizes housing and conceals the sponge fastening means.

We prefer to provide a fastener adapted to hold handle arms 2a and 2b in alignment, and thereby maintain plates I4 in a horizontal position while mopping. One form of fastening means is metal cap 22 as shown in Fig. l which fits over the upper ends of lever arm extension 2a and lever arm extension 2b, thus preventing the separation of the arms while cap 22 is in place.

Operation In normal mopping operations, metal cap 22 is placed on the upper ends of arms 2a and 2b to prevent their separation, and thereby providing handle 2 for pushing the mop on the surface which is desired to be cleaned. Preventing the angular displacement of arms 2a and 2b, also serves to hold mop head plates I4 in horizontal aiignment and permits sponge I9 to be pressed downwardly by exerting pressure on handle 2.

Balls 5 pivoting in sockets 6 allow handle 2 to be pivoted at various angles with respect to the surface being mopped, or to bring handle 2 to a vertical position for storage.

When it is desired to wring sponge i9, cap 2.2

is removed from handle 2, thus permitting handle arms 2a and 2b to be angularly displaced with respect to each other. It is apparent from the structure shown that arms 2a and 2b may be displaced so as to either increase or decrease the distance between the ends of right lever la and left lever Ib of tongs I. The correct direction of displacement is that which causes tongs I to close and thereby exert a downward folding force on plates I4. In the illustration given in Fig. l the upper arm 2b is rotated to the left and the lower arm 2b is rotated to the right. This direction of rotation for each arm can easily be determined by observation, or if desired can be marked on the handles. Also, the structure shown makes it considerably more difficult to separate the handle arms in the wrong direction.

Upon rotating handle arm 2b to the left and handle arm 2a. to the right a folding force is exerted on plates I4 through balls 5. Plates I4 are thus caused to pivot about balls 5. The inner portions of plates I4 are lifted upwardly, while the outer portions are lowered. The left and right portions of the bottom surface of sponge I9 are thus brought into parallel alignment by sponge I9 being folded transversely at about the center thereof. This folding action causes a portion of the sponge, as shown best in Fig. 3, to be forced upwardly into the open-ing provided between plates Ill. Thus, the provision of this space between plates I4 allows sponge I9 to be' folded without bunching at the fold, as would be the case if backing member extended solidly above sponge I9.

During the folding operation, rod I0' is partially disengaged from sleeve 8. Since sleeve 8 is pivotally mounted, this disengagement tends to take place in one plane, and therefore plates I'4 and I4 are prevented from moving upwardly or downwardly relative to each other. Balls 5 are permitted to rotate in sockets 6 during the folding operation.

The displacement of handle arms 2a and 2b as just described rapidly folds sponge I9. Sponge I9 can thus be quickly brought to the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the left 'and right portions of the sponge bottom are pressing uniformly against each other. When this point is reached, further separation of the handle arms applies pressure to sponge I9 and causes it to be thoroughly wrung. Moreover it should be noted that this method of wringing sponge I9 causes it to be flushed from the center outwardly, which cleans the outer sponge surfaces without introducing dirt into the center of the sponge. It is also important that the flushing of sponge I9 can be carried out as described without the necessity of bending or stooping by the person wringing the mop. Also it is advantageous that the force applied to displace the handle arms is magnified by the lever action about pivot pin I3. Thus, a relatively small force will be required to be applied to the upper part of the handle arms to produce a powerful squeezing action between folded plates I4.

When it is desired to replace sponge I9, this can easily be done by disengaging clips I8 from clip recesses 20. A new sponge having clips attached thereto and aligned for insertion in clip recesses 2l] can then be readily fastened beneath plates I4. This fastening means allows sponge I9 to be detachably fastened without the necessity for visible fasteners such as bolts and wing nuts and the sponge is more readily detachable.

While in the foregoing specification we have angled tongs extending longitudinally of said plates separated transversely byaspaeed distance NWI;

Shown our` improved self-wringing mop in great 4. A center wringing mop, comprising two etail and in specific arrangement for illustraplates having a transverse rectangular opening tion, it will be understood that such arrangement therebetween, housings mounted on said plates the spirit of oui' invention. oting in sockets at the outer ends of said housings, We claim: tong lever arms secured to said balls and having 1. A center wringing mop, comprising an inupwardly extending aims forming the mop plates separated transversely by aspaced distance of one of said housings and sliding in a sleeve lower end portions pivotally connected and hav- 5. A center wringing mop, comprising an ining end extensions providing generally righttegral absorbent sponge secured beneath two said plates and adapted to apply downward presvide a transverse opening between said plates,

2. A center wringing mop, comprising an inlower end portions pivotally connected and havtegral absorbent sponge secured to two plates seping end extensions pivotally secured to the top of arated transversely by a spaced distance at about said plates and being adapted to apply downward backed portion extending between said plates and said lever arms, and guide means comprising a rod across said opening, a pair of tongs pivotally fas- Carried by one of said plates and a sleeve carried tened to said plates, said tongs having arm extenby the Other 0f Said plates, Seid IOd being Sldably sions forming the mop handle and also serving to received Within Said Sleeve.

actuate said tongs, and a rod pivotally attached to one of said plates and sliding in a sleeve pivotally references Cited in the me of this patent attached to the other of said plates, whereby said UNITED STATES PATENTS to parallel relation without undue disalignment Number Name Date 0f Said plates, 102,865 Rees May 10, 1870 3. A center wringing mop, comprising an ab- 1,912,543 Sendlel June '6, 1933 sorbent sponge secured to two plates having a, 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 6, 1936 transverse rectangular opening therebetween at 2,251,334 Thomas Allg- 5, 1941 about the center of said sponge, housings mounted 214863102 BeI'ndSen OC 25, 1949 on Vsaid plates having inner ends adjacent said 216141231 Clerk Oct. 21, 1952 opening and outer ends remote from said open- 21643507 Vosbken et al JllIle 30, 1953 ing, balls pivoting in sockets at the outer ends of said housings, tong levers secured to said balls FOREIGN PATENTS and having arm extensions forming the mop Number Country Date handle, means for locking said arm extensions to- 20,332 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1895 gether, and a rod pivotally secured to the iii- 76,184 Norway Jan. 30, 1950 ner end of one of said housings and sliding in a 216,565 Germany Nov. 24, 1909 sleeve pivotally secured to the other inner end of 596,139 Germany Apr. 27, 1934 said housings to assist in maintaining the align- 617,197 Germany Aug. 14, 1935 ment of said plates when squeezing said sponge. 807,925 France Oct. 26; 1936 

